WEBVTT TH SIDES OF THE ISSUE. >> ANDREW HAS THE DEVELOPMENTS FROM LINCOLN. >> FOR 75 YEARS, PUBLIC POWER HAS BEEN THE SOURCE OF POWER, BUT IT IS CHANGING. >> >> NEBRASKA HAS GONE UP OVER 20 PERCENT AS FAR AS RATES SINCE2008. >> THEY INTRODUCED L B 660. WHERE TO SHOP, AND BUY YOUR ELECTRICITY. >> IT IS BOUGHT AND SOLD ON THE MARKET. >> AND L B 657 WOULD UNBUNDLE YOUR ELECTRICITY, AND I WILL LETYOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE PAYING FORCOSTS. THEY CAN LOOK AT IT AND COMPARE IT TO OTHER NEIGHBORS OR COMPARETO OTHER BUSINESSES OR COMPARE IT TO OTHER PLACES ACROSS THE STATE, AND THEY CAN START ASKINGQUESTIONS. >> NEBRASKA IS LOSING BUSINESSESBECAUSE OF THE LACK OF CHOICE. >> CONSUMERS SPEND 2.5 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN NEBRASKA. WE CAN CUT THEM AT LEAST BY 10 PERCENT WITH COMPETITION. >> AND POWER COMPANIES LINED UP TO OPPOSE THE SOLUTIONS. >> THESE ARE POOR SOLUTIONS, LOOKING FOR A PROBLEM TO SOLVE. >> RATE PAYERS AND HAVING LOCAL CONTROL, AND CHERRY PICKING BUSINESSES LEAVENING OTHERS WITHLEAVE OTHERS WITH HIGHER BILLS. >> GOOD THEY GET CHERRY PICKED, THOSE COSTS WILL BE LEFT FOR THOSE WHO STAY. >> STILL, THEY THINK THEY HAVE ACHOICE WHEN IT COMES TO POWER. >> WE NEED TO HAVE A BIG CONVERSATION ABOUT PUBLIC POWER AND THE ROLE IT WILL PLAY. >> KETV NEWSWATCH 7.

A legislative proposal that would allow Nebraska electriccustomers to pick their power source packed a hearing room at the State CapitolThursday afternoon.

Advertisement

Omaha Sen. Justin Wayne introduced LB 660, saying Nebraska’s public power system has not kept up with the new way of purchasing energy.

"Electricity is a commodity that is bought and sold on the market," Sen. Wayne told the Legislature's Natural Resources Committee.

Wayne said that electric rates in Nebraska have gone up over 20 percent since 2008. He’s also responsible for LB 657, which would allow buyers to see rates and other costs on their monthly bill.

“And they can start asking questions,” said Philip Young.

Young, the executive director for Americans for Electricity Choice,said the bill would allow customers to compare what the energy rate is. He saidthe state is losing business because of its lack of choice.

"Consumers spend $2.5 billion a year on electricity inNebraska. We think we can cut those bills at least 10 percent withcompetition," Young said.

But public power companies lined up to opposed the measures.

"These bills are a solution and a poor one at that, lookingfor a problem to solve," Troy Bredenkamp, the general manager for the Nebraska Rural Electric Association, said.

Opponents said Nebraska ranks 15th lowest in the country for electric rates. Customers have local control. And they say that with retail choice, power companies would cherry-pick business, leaving others with higher bills.

"If those customers get cherry-picked, those remaining costs are going to have to be bourn by the folks that stay," noted Pat Pope of Nebraska Public Power District.

Opponents also pointed out the price tag to implement choice. The Legislature’s fiscal office estimates that LB 660 would cost $2.7 million to $5 million.

Still, Sen. Wayne believes Nebraskans should consider whether to have choice when it comes to picking power.

"I think it's time we have big discussion on public power and the role it's going to play in the future," Wayne said.